I have no resentment over being relieved of my cabinet position; I could never feel angry, as His Excellency President Barrow respects me now more th… - Fatoumata Tambajang

I have never been a member of the UDP. Initially, I supported them because of their united front. As Ousainu Darboe mentioned at the UDP congress in 1996, they formed a coalition, and I supported the national front. The reason I was often seen with UDP was due to the crises surrounding them, but I visited and collaborated with all parties. I consulted with many, including the female candidate. My presence with UDP did not make me a member. Early on, I did help prepare the UDP manifesto with the late Sidia Sagnia, but I did so as a national leader dedicated to advancing the political process. Nowhere will you find a membership card showing I belong to the UDP. I have the constitutional right to join any party, but I believe we should focus not on political ambition but on the country's needs. With my experience and abilities from my work with the UN, it was meaningful for me to support the United Front.

I want to clarify to the nation that the letter of recommendation I sent to UNEP through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was altered. It has been alleged that certain key figures within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs plotted against her, fabricating reasons to orchestrate her removal from the Barrow Administration.

No, I never had the intention to be foreign minister. His Excellency never offered me the position, and I never asked for it. I had no ambition for any particular role. My focus was on ensuring that he had a strong cabinet, and I supported him in that process. He consulted all the political leaders and offered positions to them. For me, political leaders are more important than any position. It's never been about the role itself. If it were about positions, I would have gone back to the UN or pursued another opportunity, as I have the qualifications. While I'm not perfect, I would have sought higher roles if it were about personal gain. Now, if positions didn't matter, why did I hold onto the vice president position for so long when I knew my age was a factor? Why didn't I step aside? I could have said, 'I've helped remove Jammeh, that's enough,' but I chose to stay, even though The Gambia was without a full-time vice president. It's good you asked. I've often consulted with the president about stepping down, suggesting that my ambition was to support him in any role other than vice president. I even suggested some names for the vice president role, and he is a living witness to this. But people don't fully understand me. The president told me that, as far as he and the country are concerned, I deserved to be vice president—not for personal reasons, but because of my background and experience. He said this when he swore me in. He didn't appoint me because I was the chair of the coalition. He chose me because of the trust, my expertise, and my contributions to the coalition.